Ibanez Upright Bass

[bumble yeti]

Hmm. Reoccurring issue. The A string's volume drops and gets distorted if it sits a couple to three hours plugged in. When I unplug/replug it all is well and the timer starts again. Noticed it a couple times before and wrote it off to the battery. But after replacement, it happened twice again. I'm going to take it to my LMS but thought I'd see if anyone else had an issue. I'm new to piezo pickups too.

 

[laklandplayer]

Hmm. Reoccurring issue. The A string's volume drops and gets distorted if it sits a couple to three hours plugged in. When I unplug/replug it all is well and the timer starts again. Noticed it a couple times before and wrote it off to the battery. But after replacement, it happened twice again. I'm going to take it to my LMS but thought I'd see if anyone else had an issue. I'm new to piezo pickups too.

I haven’t had that issue with mine. Call Ibanez customer service, it may just need a replacement preamp, it’s easy to do.

 

[bumble yeti]

I haven’t had that issue with mine. Call Ibanez customer service, it may just need a replacement preamp, it’s easy to do.

I'll let my LMS diagnose and fix it. It's under warranty.

 

[trekster0721]

Hmm. Reoccurring issue. The A string's volume drops and gets distorted if it sits a couple to three hours plugged in. When I unplug/replug it all is well and the timer starts again. Noticed it a couple times before and wrote it off to the battery. But after replacement, it happened twice again. I'm going to take it to my LMS but thought I'd see if anyone else had an issue. I'm new to piezo pickups too.

I am having a similar issue -- I never leave the bass plugged in.. I put in a fresh battery, play for a bit at home, come back the next day and the battery is *COMPLETELY* dead -- can't even get a tingle on the tounge! Not quite sure what to do yet -- probably the call to Ibanez CS.

 

[bumble yeti]

My LMS said Ibanez had them send the bass back for repair. Haven't heard anything as of yet.

 

[bumble yeti]

Just got it back from Ibanez today. Same issue. Plugged it in, played it a bit, about 2 hours later the A string volume dropped and is distorting. Unplugged it and it was fine.
Hmm. Took them a month. Time for a new bass or a refund.

 

[laklandplayer]

Just got it back from Ibanez today. Same issue. Plugged it in, played it a bit, about 2 hours later the A string volume dropped and is distorting. Unplugged it and it was fine.
Hmm. Took them a month. Time for a new bass or a refund.

Check the connection from the a string pickup to the circuit board. It may be loose, not making good contact or just a defective bridge saddle pickup. If it were a bad preamp the whole thing would crap out. I’d call Ibanez back and talk to them.

 

[bumble yeti]

Check the connection from the a string pickup to the circuit board. It may be loose, not making good contact or just a defective bridge saddle pickup. If it were a bad preamp the whole thing would crap out. I’d call Ibanez back and talk to them.

My LMS is working with them. They said Ibanez had replaced the electronics and bridge.
So… If you want to perform an experiment.
Plug the bass in with the amp on for a couple hours and let us know either way.

 

[Woodchuck]

I'm curious as to why people leave active basses plugged in. I had a Warwick Thumb die on me like that, and I haven't done it since.

 

[bumble yeti]

I'm curious as to why people leave active basses plugged in. I had a Warwick Thumb die on me like that, and I haven't done it since.

You unplug your bass between sets?
Not me… since the early '90's.
If I was gigging with it, it'd most likely be plugged into an ABY box of some sort and be on all night long.
No disrespect. Just saying if it's on a gig, it's gotta be on point.
I'm hoping to hear from my LMS in the morning.
I'm going to bed. Oh to dream of EUB's whose A string doesn't fart out.

 

[GMaui]

I just picked up a UB804 and sounds like I am having similar issues. I thought it was eating batteries, but I am using rechargeables now and they show completely charged. I get about 15 minutes of playing and then it completely craps out. And, if I don't play for just a few minutes, I have to unplug the battery and plug it in again.
I have emailed Ibanez, but everything is closed for the virus, and they're not even answering emails.
Did anyone get a remedy for this issue?

 

[bumble yeti]

I just picked up a UB804 and sounds like I am having similar issues. I thought it was eating batteries, but I am using rechargeables now and they show completely charged. I get about 15 minutes of playing and then it completely craps out. And, if I don't play for just a few minutes, I have to unplug the battery and plug it in again.
I have emailed Ibanez, but everything is closed for the virus, and they're not even answering emails.
Did anyone get a remedy for this issue?

Still waiting on Ibanez here. My LMS said they didn't respond to their emails and that they were most likely shut down. That was a couple of weeks ago. I would recommend contacting the seller and ask them to log a ticket as well.

 

[laklandplayer]

I just picked up a UB804 and sounds like I am having similar issues. I thought it was eating batteries, but I am using rechargeables now and they show completely charged. I get about 15 minutes of playing and then it completely craps out. And, if I don't play for just a few minutes, I have to unplug the battery and plug it in again.
I have emailed Ibanez, but everything is closed for the virus, and they're not even answering emails.
Did anyone get a remedy for this issue?

You should not use rechargeable batteries for several reasons. 1. 9v rechargeable batteries are actually 7.4 volts. 2. They don’t have the current available to drive preamps, an alkaline is 600Mah and a rechargeable is only 200Mah. 3. Their current drain is not gradual and can damage a circuit. Unless you are using expensive Varta 8.4v 600 Mah rechargeable batteries, go back to Duracell alkaline.

 

[GMaui]

Thanks for the head's up on rechargeable. Gonna get expensive with the Duracells. Got an answer from Ibanez. They said to never leave the bass plugged in because it completes the circuit and will drain the battery. Also, sent a drawing of the jack to compare and see if the wiring was done correctly. I opened it up and the wiring looks backwards. Might have to re solder a brand new $850 bass.

 

[bumble yeti]

Thanks for the head's up on rechargeable. Gonna get expensive with the Duracells. Got an answer from Ibanez. They said to never leave the bass plugged in because it completes the circuit and will drain the battery. Also, sent a drawing of the jack to compare and see if the wiring was done correctly. I opened it up and the wiring looks backwards. Might have to re solder a brand new $850 bass.

It's common knowledge not to leave any active bass plugged in all of the time. If you're on a gig, yeah, it's going to be plugged in for a few hours. That shouldn't harm it.
Why would YOU re-solder a new bass? Won't that void your warranty?
It's a warranty repair. They should do it or pay to have a qualified tech do it.
My LMS is now closed for the duration. I'm think I'm gonna have to contact Ibanez.

 

[laklandplayer]

Thanks for the head's up on rechargeable. Gonna get expensive with the Duracells. Got an answer from Ibanez. They said to never leave the bass plugged in because it completes the circuit and will drain the battery. Also, sent a drawing of the jack to compare and see if the wiring was done correctly. I opened it up and the wiring looks backwards. Might have to re solder a brand new $850 bass.

Any bass with batteries will drain if left pugged in and yes, there is always the possibility that the jack was wired incorrectly so the battery is on all of the time causing it to drain. It uses a TRS jack designed so when the shorter of the 2 tips touches the ground of the instrument plug it completes the circuit and turns on the battery. If that's the case, its and easy fix. Good luck.

 

[ElectricBass72]

I'd love to try out the Ibanez upright. I had a NS Design upright years ago... and it was a blast to play with a bow. I was short on cash and ended up selling it. It was really tough to get the bowing technique down... it took me weeks to sound half way decent.

 

[laklandplayer]

I'd love to try out the Ibanez upright. I had a NS Design upright years ago... and it was a blast to play with a bow. I was short on cash and ended up selling it. It was really tough to get the bowing technique down... it took me weeks to sound half way decent.

The Ibanez works great with a bow, the secret to good sound is by using a quality rosin on your bow, I use Carlsson from Sweden. It's about $20.00 but a cake will last forever. It grips the strings and makes bowing a lot more responsive you don't have to dig in so hard.

 

[ElectricBass72]

The Ibanez works great with a bow, the secret to good sound is by using a quality rosin on your bow, I use Carlsson from Sweden. It's about $20.00 but a cake will last forever. It grips the strings and makes bowing a lot more responsive you don't have to dig in so hard.

First thing I ever learned with the bow on upright were the two tracks from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me movie... the band in the bar scene had an upright bassist playing some repetitive, hypnotic basslines. Those tracks were perfect to learn and get adapted to playing upright after years of playing electric bass.

My greatest accomplishment was being able to play Mr. Krinkle by Primus half way decent.... but nowhere near as good as Claypool.

 

[BillinAnchorage]

My UB804 just came in yesterday. Oh man what an axe. Or a log in this case. hahaha There is some serious timber in this thing. I'd never played an upright before, as soon as I gripped the neck holly crap that is humongus. I'll never get use to it. Two hours later I love and can't stop playing it. I play with a guitarist/singer guy and I think about 1/3 our stuff it will work good on. I got a bow with it too. Pops rosin and it sounds cool but I have a long way to go before I'd do that in front of someone.
Anywho .. I put a set of TI jazz flats on and I like it better. I also have a set of black tape wounds I could try. Anyone think the NS710's are worth trying? Will it bow better with them? How bout a foam string deadner? That may give a little more acoustic DB sound for some stuff. So far so good. Like my other premium Ibanez ... fantastic build quality for the price.